Hello! And Seasons Greetings to all. I am going to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year at this time because I will take a couple of weeks vacation from The Collection of Indigenous American Art blog. It has been a good first year for me as a beginner at blog site operation. While I have not achieved all my objectives I do feel that now there are several hundred images for you to consider and I hope, enjoy. I will return in January to continue posting and printing weekly. Here are the final prints of 2011.

Who introduced the idea?

At this point, you may be wondering what purpose did these images serve? Were the stones actually the art work or were they intended to be used as printing plates! When did this discipline begin in the indigenous American societies? An interesting point is that the American Indians did not make paper as far as we know. They did have animal hides and paper like substances such as corn shucks and some types of tree bark. Who introduced them to the idea? Were the North American Indians actually far more mobile than we first thought? Did traders come from Meso and South America to trade goods with their neighbors to the north? This is probably true.

Happy Thanks Giving!!!

Hello! I hope that you had a nice Thanks Giving holiday. I took the time to rest and study some new specimens. As time passes I am becoming ever more impressed with the art works of the indigenous American peoples. I know that there are many people that share this feeling and admiration. At this time of Thanksgiving, we should remember the generosity of the indigenous people who first welcomed the Pilgrims to this land of plenty.

I might also add a reminder to those that have not viewed the Pacific Standard Time exhibition that it continues into the new year. Many artist are evolved. The exhibition is sponsored by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art or LACMA.

Beautiful faces from long ago!

Hello, time to post again! Welcome to The Collection of Indigenous American Art. When I start to select the images for a display I do not look for perfect complete pictures, instead I look for beautiful features of a human face and a pleasing abstract composition in the overall work. These images do remind me of Abstract Expressionism. Please do remember that most of these prints are engraved on fossil stones of one type or another. The basic design is largely that of some creature that existed many millennium ago. This fact does give each print a unique identity. Many of the stones have other carving as well. This may create another separate art work, such as a picture that has nothing to do with the graphic image. There are also Effigy stones that are sculpture in the round, these usually reflect a human or animal motif.

The study of art forms...

I would like to explain in this weeks post that my college degree is in Art Education. I am a graphic artist, not an Anthropologist or an Archeologist. My interest in the art work of the indigenous American peoples is purely a product of having been exposed to primitive art forms in my childhood. Throughout my life I have enjoyed the study of the great societies that preceded “Our America the Beautiful”. Today many graphic artist are studding the history of early artist to gain in-site into what art actually is. The study of art forms is central to both Anthropology and Archeology. In many cases written languages have evolved from drawings and symbols created by artist. This blog publishes information about the origin of customs and language. In addition to this we are looking at the source of printing technology! I hope that you find these pages interesting and informative and that you will return to view each week.

Matting and Framing ...

Welcome to another post here at The Collection of Indigenous American Art. Some viewers have ask me to make the prints larger here on the blog page. I have no problem with that, so in the feature I will go to a larger format. I think that they do look very nice in 8 x 10 or even 11 x 14. This is especially true if you are matting and framing for display. The larger the image is made, the more distance should be allowed for observation. If for instance you are in a confined space like a small room or office, a smaller work will view better than a larger print. A 4 x 6 would probably be about right. If the image is enlarged to say 11 x 14, then 12 to 15 feet would be about the minimum distance. I would like to see a group printed on stretched canvas. I do by all means think that they do make beautiful wall art and as I have said in the past, they are compatible with contemporary abstract art.

You are the Judge!

A friend of mine once told me that with respect to collecting things “It was knowing what to keep” and likewise “what to through away!” Then another friend added “but,with respect to rare art work, keep everything and allow many other people to do the judging as well.” Both of these individuals were correct in my way of thinking. When I began posting this blog I knew that I had found the proper place for the exhibitions. Now each week I could show you the best stones of the week! I do think that all artifacts should be protected but, if we keep worthless junk there isn't room for the really good work. Computer science is making it possible to share and learn at the same time. Many thousands of examples can be stored for review at any time. As I have said in the past you are welcome to make your own files here. It is my hope that this attitude will be shared as well and that we can further the study of Anthropology and Art History in the process.

"With Primitive Tools"

One point that must be made repeatedly in trying to explain these works to viewers is that you may find that you like the work better in another position. My selection is quite often not the dominate view. I have looked at the file several times and realized that my choice was incorrect, so do rotate the images as you view the illustrations each week. Who can actually say in some cases which view is the right one? Your interest might be different. The main thing is to realize that there are other positions for any particular image. The indigenous American artist were aware of a more complicated reality with respect to the pictorial window. We may find the compositions somewhat strange but, we have to accept that the artist has a right to create his art! We also have to admit that most of us here in the post-modern era can not draw as well as these artist could and, let alone the act of engraving the image into stone. With primitive tools, I might add.

Art Old and New!

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that the Pacific Standard Time exhibition is currently taking place. There are many groups involved in this large Los Angeles based organization. One of the contributing sources is the Tamarind Institute. This art school was founded in Los Angeles in the 1960's, later it became a part of the campus of the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque. The focus of the Tamarind Institute is the teaching of the fine art of Lithographic printing, with a Master of Fine Arts degree as the successful students goal. There is a web site with a print gallery where visitors can brows the works of students past and present. I was very impressed, I think that the University of New Mexico is by all means living up to its reputation as one of the best art departments in the country.

I have been very busy in the last couple of months. This has caused me to fall behind somewhat, I am in the process of moving the art studio to a new location. Because of this difficulty I have only prints again this week! I will live up to my promise to show more effigy stones and unset jewelry stones. There are many miniature sculptures that I know that you will like, so please bare with me as I try to catch up. Once again, Thank You for viewing!

American Indian Art Work

Greetings! Time for another short message. Once again I would like to point out that the illustrations that you see on this blog have been printed recently, usually a day or so before the post goes up! This is the source of the prints, they are not found anywhere else in the world. The only place that the images exist is on particular individual stones. If they have ever been printed it is very likely that the proofing took place several centuries ago in most cases. The images are authentic American Indian art work. They are truly a window into the lives of the artist that created them.

There are several thousand prints in The Collection of Indigenous American Art. We will continue to explore the files in the coming months. There will also be more photographic illustrations as well. I would like to make these images available for public exhibition. If you are responsible for planning such events I invite you contact me for information. Thank You for your interest.